Wayne's manager, Cortez Bryant, now tells TMZ he was just being "sarcastic" when he said "everything is fine" between Weezy and Cash Money.

Lil Wayne finally spoke out in public about his battle with Cash Money Records over his new album ... and told concertgoers his days at the label are numbered. 

It all went down at Vice's 20th anniversary party, and when Weezy hit the stage he went off about the delayed release of "The Carter V" ... calling it a "f**ked up situation."

Earlier this week, Wayne's manager told TMZ everything's okay -- but in this clip Wayne sounds like it's the exact opposite ... like things are about to get ugly.